Last week Rochdale held its final event of its year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture – the Rochdale Culture Awards, celebrating the borough’s cultural changemakers.

I was delighted to have been nominated, and then to receive a runner up award in the ‘Creative of the Year’ category.

The award recognises the work I have done to encourage and support local communities in creative writing including running workshops, taking part in events and performances and creating commissioned pieces.

The winner in my category was Hayley Garner (AYLO) is one half of the street art duo ‘Nomad Clan’ and has created some amazing large scale murals in Rochdale as the Common Walls Festival. The other runner-up was Martina Coggins the founder of Trading Steps Theatre and Dance Company, Martina is also the woman behind the choreography for Sign Along With Us who mixed dance and sign language to great effect on Britain’s Got Talent.

It was an honour to be alongside these talented creatives and I am thankful to those who nominated me and to all of those I have worked with throughout the year. Many Thanks!